Gainesville police investigate suspicious death

Authorities seek public's assistance in solving crime

The Gainesville Police Department is seeking the public’s help in solving the homicide of a 50-year-old Sugar Hill man.

Gregory Stinchcomb’s body was found about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday by a passer-by in woods near Chestnut Street, the Gainesville police stated Monday in a news release.

Authorities are releasing few details about the body, including cause of death or how long it had been in the woods.

Gainesville police spokesman Cpl. Joe Britte did say the body was found in an area between railroad tracks that run parallel to Moreno Street and The Tire Barn Tire Pros off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also is involved in the probe, called in because it could do a more thorough death scene investigation, Britte said.

An autopsy later determined “foul play was apparent,” according to Gainesville police.

GBI spokeswoman Sherry Lang deferred to Gainesville police on the investigation, adding, “we do not release anything on open cases.”

Investigators are asking members of the public to come forward if they have noticed any suspicious vehicles or people traveling in the area or anything otherwise out of the ordinary there.

“Please be mindful that even the smallest piece of information can yield large results,” the news release states.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gainesville police’s Criminal Investigations Division at 770-534-5254 or Investigator Brad Raper at 770-535-3783.